Breathing assistance apparatus

• US 20040244804A1
• Filed: 08/03/2004
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
• Original Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
• Inventors: Prime, Neil, Leckie, Martin, Olsen, Gregory James
• Application Number:
  US10/489,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20040244804A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/207.18
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0069 the speed thereof being controlled by respiratory parameters, e.g. by inhalation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0633 with forehead support
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0666 Nasal cannulas or tubing devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0841 for sampling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1095 in the connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/161 with means for measuring the humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3348 Pressure measurement using a water column
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2240/00 Specially adapted for neonatal use

Abstract

A nasal cannula (100) for delivering respiratory gases to a neonatal infant comprising a manifold including a chamber (10), a gases inlet (16) to the chamber and a gases outlet (12), a low resistance path for gases through the chamber from its inlet to its outlet and a pair of nasal prongs (116, 118) in fluid communication with the chamber with each prong substantial equidistant the inlet, and directly in the low resistance path to eliminate deadspace.

Claims

1. A nasal cannula for delivering respiratory gases to a neonatal infant comprising:

a manifold including a chamber, a gases inlet configured to engage an inspiratory conduit, a gases outlet configured to engage an expiratory conduit and a low resistance path for said gases through said chamber from said inlet to said outlet

a pair of nasal prongs in fluid communication with said chamber substantial equidistant said inlet, said prongs juxtaposed directly in said path.

2. A nasal cannula for delivering respiratory gases to a neonatal infant as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cannula includes securement means to hold said prongs in place in the nares of said neonate.

3. A nasal cannula for delivering respiratory gases to a neonatal infant as claimed in claim 2 wherein said securement means including a strap adapted to pass around the back of the neck of said neonate and engage with said cannula and thereby hold said prongs in place in the nares of said neonate.

4. A nasal cannula for delivering respiratory gases to a neonatal infant as claimed in claim 3 wherein said strap includes a low resistance portion, said low resistance portion adapted to engage with said cannula in a sliding fashion to allow said strap substantial lateral (egonon axial) movement relative to said cannula.

5. A nasal cannula for delivering respiratory gases to a neonatal infant as claimed in claim 4 wherein said low resistance portion comprises a thin plastic strand or strip.

6. A nasal cannula for delivering respiratory gases to a neonatal infant as claimed in claim 5 wherein the remainder of said strap includes an adjustable attachment to said low resistance portion to in use adjust the tension of said strap.

7. A nasal cannula for delivering respiratory gases to a neonatal infant as claimed in anyone of claims 2 to 6 wherein said securement means including an infant bonnet comprising head cover means adapted to at least partially cover the head of an infant and including at least a cuff of elastic property to securely locate said cover means on said infant head, and medical tube securing means connected with said cover means on the outer surface thereof, said medical tubes adapted to in use connect to said cannula, said securing means operable to hold medical tubes passing over said cover means against at least lateral (egonon axial) movement.

8. A nasal cannula for delivering respiratory gases to a neonatal infant as claimed in claim 7 wherein said head cover means is formed of a knit fabric in a tubular configuration and open at both ends, said securing means is connected with said outer surface adjacent one said open end and end closing means are connected with said outer surface adjacent the other said open end, said end closing means being operable to hold the said knit fabric of its respective said end in a closed, bunched together, condition.

9. A nasal cannula for delivering respiratory gases to a neonatal infant as claimed in claim 8 wherein either or both of said tube securing means and said end closing means are or include a lace or tie stitched to said head cover means.

10. A nasal cannula for delivering respiratory gases to a neonatal infant as claimed in claim 9 wherein said lace or tieing is secured at its centre to said head cover means to provide two arms, said arms passing through a tightening toggle slidable on said arms.

11. A nasal cannula for delivering respiratory gases to a neonatal infant as claimed in claim 10 wherein said tightening toggle is operable between at least two conditions, being biased to a pinch off condition in which said arms of said lace or tie are clamped within their passage through said toggle and manipulable to a free configuration in which said toggle may slide a long said arms of said lace or tie.

14. A system in as claimed in claim 13 wherein said nasal cannula is constructed according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

12. A system for delivering respiratory gases in a neonatal infant comprising

a source of pressurised gases,

an inhalatory conduit in fluid communication with said source of gases and adapted to convey gases,

a nasal cannula in fluid communication with said inhalatory conduit and adapted to deliver gases to the nasal passages of said infant,

an exhalatory conduit in fluid communication with said delivery means and adapted to convey gases from said delivery means, and

a pressure regulating device disposed within or in fluid communication with said exhalatory gases transport means and adapted to achieve a predetermined mean pressure of gases delivered to the nasal passages of said infant by regulating the flow of gases through said pressure regulating device.

13. A system as claimed in claim 12 wherein pressure regulating device comprising:

a container adapted to house a body of liquid,

terminal conduit means including proximate and distal ends, said proximate end adapted for connection to said exhalatory conduit, and said distal end adapted for submergence in said body of liquid,

such that in use the mean pressure of gases delivered to the nasal passages of said infant is determined by the level to which said distal end is submerged in said body of liquid.